YACT: first/reverse gear died :(

[DumbGuy]

I bought a '97 Maxima (automatic transmission) two months ago and around a few weeks back my CEL turned on. I did the diagnosis and turned out to be a problem with the Shift Solenoid Valve (A); I also started noticing that the car would take long to shift to 2nd gear (around 3-4.5k RPMs). Tonight, I went to put the car in reverse, and nothing would happen, it would just stay still. "D" works, so does "2", but 1st and reverse do not work at all.
I was waiting for winter break to come so I could take it to a mechanic so they could check out the solenoid thing, but it looks that I'm gonna have to get a new tranny =(
Any inputs on this? can it be that the tranny is completely screwed up, or is it something fixable?

thanks guys.

 

[CraigRT]

no clue.. i was looking at a 97 maxima, but a 5 speed 😀

 

[Heisenberg]

If it's just the solenoid valve it won't be that bad. (By not bad, I mean you won't need to rebuild the whole tranny.)

 

[Gravity]

They could replace the solenoid. 1st and reverse are the same gear so it's in the hydralics. It might be cheaper than a new/rebuilt tranny and to my knowledge, maxima units are pretty stable. Cross your fingers and take it to the experts.

 

[Pepsi90919]

the fluid was last changed when?

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
the fluid was last changed when?

Yes, the first thing I'd do is get the fluid changed, and then possibly get the solenoids cleaned/inspected as well.

 

[DumbGuy]

Yeah. I hope its the the solenoid valve (runs around 200 bucks to fix, I think).
I took it to some transmission place this morning and they told me that they had to rebuild it; I didn't trust them lol, going to look in other places to see what they tell me.

 

[DumbGuy]

Any more inputs? =\
btw, fluid seems normal at normal level. I haven't flushed it yet though.